1.Seat belts
- All motor vehicle drivers and passengers in Ontario must wear a seatbelt that is properly adjusted and securely fastened. All passengers must be buckled up in their own seatbelt, child car seat or booster seat.
- As a driver you are responsible for ensuring that all passengers under 16 years of age are properly buckled into a seatbelt, child car seat or booster seat.
- Drivers who do not buckle up can be fined and will be given two demerit points. If convicted you face fines between $200 and $1,000 and two demerit points.
- Novice drivers must have a seatbelt for every passenger. Drivers who do not ensure there is a working seatbelt for every passenger can lose their licence for at least 30 days.
- Wear the shoulder strap over your shoulder, never under your arm or behind your back. The lap belt should be worn low over the hips, not against the stomach.
- Never put more than one person into a seatbelt; this can cause serious injury or even death in a collision.
- Use your seatbelt always, even when you are sitting in a position with an active airbag. Airbags do not replace seatbelts.
Official source: Seatbelt safety ↗ · Getting ready drive ↗
2.Child car seats and boosters
- Infants who weigh less than 9 kilograms must be buckled into a rear-facing child car seat attached to the vehicle by a seatbelt or the UAS strap. A rear-facing child car seat is always best installed in the back seat.
- Toddlers 9 to 18 kilograms must be buckled into a child car seat attached to the vehicle by a seatbelt or a UAS strap; the seat’s tether strap must also be attached to the vehicle’s tether anchor.
- Booster seats must be used by children who have outgrown their forward-facing child car seat, are under the age of eight and weigh 18 kilograms or more but less than 36 kilograms, and who are less than 145 centimetres (4 feet, 9 inches) tall.
- You must use a booster seat with a lap/shoulder belt. Never use a lap belt alone with a booster seat.
- A child may begin wearing a seatbelt once they can wear it properly and any one of these is true: the child turns eight years old, weighs 36 kilograms or more, or is 145 centimetres (4 feet 9 inches) tall or taller.
- Child car seats must meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and buckles and straps must be fastened according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
| Stage | Child | What is required |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing infant seat | Less than 9 kilograms | Rear-facing child car seat attached by a seatbelt or the UAS strap |
| Child car seat | 9 to 18 kilograms | Attached by a seatbelt or UAS strap, with the tether strap attached to the vehicle’s tether anchor |
| Booster seat | Under eight years old, 18 kilograms or more but less than 36 kilograms, and less than 145 centimetres tall | Must be used with a lap/shoulder belt, never with a lap belt alone |
Official source: Getting ready drive ↗
3.Airbags
- Never put a rear-facing child car seat in a seating position that has an active airbag. If the airbag inflates, it could seriously injure the child.
- Do not place a child in a seating position in front of an air bag that is not turned off. The safest place for a child under age 13 is in the back seat.
- If the back seat is unavailable, children can sit in the front seat only if there is no active airbag for the front seat, or the front airbag can be switched off.
- Airbags do not replace seatbelts. Use your seatbelt always, even in a position with an active airbag: in a collision your seatbelt will keep you in position so that the airbag can protect you.
Official source: Getting ready drive ↗ · Seatbelt safety ↗
4.Seat, mirrors and head restraint
- Sit high enough in the driver’s seat to see over the steering wheel and hood. You should be able to see the ground four metres in front of the vehicle; use a firm cushion if needed.
- Sit straight upright with your elbows slightly bent and adjust the seat so your feet reach the pedals easily. To check your position, try placing your feet flat on the floor under the brake pedal; if you can do this without stretching, you are seated properly.
- If your vehicle has an adjustable headrest, make sure it is at the right height: the back of your head should be directly in front of the middle of the headrest to protect you in a collision.
- Check that you have enough room in the front seat to drive properly and safely. Do not overcrowd your driving space with passengers or property.
- Position the interior mirror so that the centre of the mirror shows the centre of the rear window. Position each outside mirror by leaning towards it and moving it so that you can just see the rear of your car, and avoid overlap in what you can see in your mirrors.
- Because your side mirrors show only narrow angles of view, turning your head to do shoulder checks is the only way to make sure there is nothing in your blind spots.
- Keep a clear view: do not put anything in your windows that will block your view, and secure loose objects with cargo nets or straps or move them to the trunk so they cannot injure passengers in a collision or sudden stop.
Official source: Getting ready drive ↗
5.Tires and maintenance
- It is illegal to drive a vehicle in dangerous condition. A police officer or Ministry of Transportation inspector can examine your vehicle, its equipment and any trailer attached to it at any time, and if the vehicle is found to be unsafe it may be taken off the road until the problem is fixed.
- Replace tires when the tread is less than 1.5 millimetres deep or when tread-wear indicators touch the road. Tires deteriorate with age even when not in use, and should not be older than 10 years.
- Replace tires that have bumps, bulges, knots, exposed cords or tread and sidewall cuts deep enough to expose cords. To make tires last, maintain the right air pressure, inspect tires for wear and rotate them regularly.
- To provide the best traction during the winter season, it is recommended that your vehicle be equipped with four winter or all-weather tires with the same tread pattern. If you live in northern Ontario, you can legally use studded tires on your vehicle.
- From the driver’s seat and before driving, look for unobstructed visibility around the entire vehicle, burned-out or dim headlamps, dashboard warning lights that stay on after engine start, and loose objects. While driving, be alert for unusual engine or exhaust noises and squeaking or grinding noises when applying the brakes.
- In winter, carry emergency supplies: a shovel, booster cables, emergency flares or warning lights, a blanket and a chain for towing. Always carry extra windshield washer fluid in the winter and refill the container when necessary.
Official source: Maintaining your vehicle ↗
6.Clearing snow and ice
- When you approach your vehicle, check for ice, snow or dirt that may interfere with vehicle lighting, steering or driver visibility, or become a hazard to other motorists should it come free from your vehicle.
- Before driving, make sure visibility is unobstructed around the entire vehicle and that no headlamp is burned out or dim.
- Keep your windows and mirrors clean, and use your defroster and wipers to maximize your vision.
- Always carry extra windshield washer fluid in the winter and refill the container when necessary.
- Headlights must be on in poor light conditions such as fog, snow or rain that keep you from clearly seeing people or vehicles less than 150 metres away.
Official source: Maintaining your vehicle ↗ · Driving night and bad weather ↗ · Getting ready drive ↗